Alden, MN vs Howard Lake, MN

Alden is moderately more affordable than Howard Lake, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Alden scores 75 compared to 84 for Howard Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Howard Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alden is $1,038/month compared to $930/month in Howard Lake — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Howard Lake has cheaper rent, Alden actually has lower median home values ($122,700 vs $239,100).

Median household income in Alden is $75,833 compared to $99,464 in Howard Lake (-23.8%). While Howard Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alden spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, more than the 11.2% in Howard Lake.